The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani shows some frustration after being called out on strikes against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw during the third inning of Wednesday’s Cactus League game in Tempe, Ariz. ‘It was a pretty borderline pitch,’ Ohtani said of the 2-and-2 curveball. ‘I thought it was low, so I decided to take it. I guess it was too close to take so next time I’ll try to at least foul it off.’ (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

TEMPE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday faced a significant challenge in what figures to be a year full of them.

He could take some solace in the fact that he fared just as poorly as most major league hitters with this one.

Ohtani faced the best pitcher in the majors, striking out in his only meeting with Clayton Kershaw in the Angels’ Cactus League game against the Dodgers.

“I have been watching Kershaw pitch on TV a lot and it felt a lot different standing in at the plate against him,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “It’s just a spring training game but it was somewhat of a special moment to be able to face Kershaw.”

A left-handed hitter, Ohtani got ahead of the Dodgers lefty ace, 2-and-0. Then he fouled off two pitches. Kershaw then dropped a curveball in for a called third strike.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be hit it the next time he throws it to me,” Ohtani said. “I was kind of expecting it with two strikes. It was a pretty borderline pitch. I thought it was low, so I decided to take it. I guess it was too close to take so next time I’ll try to at least foul it off.”

The Dodgers were one of the seven finalists selected by Ohtani before he picked the Angels. Ohtani was asked on Wednesday how close he had come to picking the Dodgers, but his interpreter said he’s not answering questions about the selection process. They have taken that stance consistently since spring training began.

Kershaw and Ohtani faced off just once, with Kershaw departing after three innings. Ohtani stuck around for one more plate appearance, a groundout against Brian Schlitter.

Ohtani is now 1 for 11 with three walks and four strikeouts, his only hit coming in his first game.

“It looked like he was seeing the ball well,” Manager Mike Scioscia said after Wednesday’s game. “The one pitch was borderline. Shohei looks like he’s starting to see the ball. As he gets more at-bats, he’ll get more comfortable.”

This game marked another minor milestone for him, as he hit in a game on the same day that he had thrown a bullpen session. Scioscia had said earlier in the spring that Ohtani could do that during the season, but not likely in spring training. So it appears the Angels might be loosening the reins somewhat.

“It doesn’t affect my bullpen sessions if I’m DH-ing that day,” Ohtani said. “I have done the same thing in Japan, so it’s not much different than my Japanese days.”

Ohtani is not going to hit on Thursday, in preparation for his start on Friday. He isn’t likely to hit again until Sunday, at the earliest.

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As Ohtani attempts the difficult trick of succeeding in the majors as a pitcher and hitter, a Japanese legend quipped that he’d like to try it too.

Ichiro Suzuki, who signed on Wednesday with the Seattle Mariners, said during his press conference at the Mariners complex that he was looking forward to hitting against Ohtani.

And he joked he’d even like to pitch to him.

Ohtani respectfully expressed little doubt: “I think he would be able to pitch well.”

CHANGE FOR MIDDLETON

Keynan Middleton, who got to the big leagues on the strength of a mid-90s fastball and a slider, is trying to incorporate more changeups this spring.

Middleton threw his changeup when he was a starter in the minors, but he mostly abandoned the pitch when he went to the bullpen. Last season, his first in the majors, he threw a few changeups, but almost exclusively to lefties. This year, the plan is for him to also use it against righties.

“It’s a third pitch when his slider is not working,” pitching coach Charlie Nagy said. “It’s a solid pitch. It’s going to make a big difference. It made a big difference last year.”

Middleton, 24, was at times dominant last year. Other times, when he lost command of his fastball, he was burned by homers. He posted a 3.86 ERA, with 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings. He also gave up 11 homers in 58-1/3 innings.

ALSO

The Angels’ exhibition game against the Tijuana Toros on Friday will be televised live … in Japan. NHK, which is picking up the Angels broadcasts of most games that Ohtani plays, will be producing its own telecast of the Tijuana game, which is not broadcast in the United States. …

Nick Tropeano gave up five earned runs in three innings in a “B” game on Wednesday morning against the Colorado Rockies. He gave up six hits and two walks, with three strikeouts. “Nick looked really good the first two innings,” Scioscia said. “The third inning was a little rough, but he spun the ball well and changed speeds.” The Angels are trying to prepare at least seven starting pitchers, which means that many days they need to find a second exhibition game to get work for a second starter.”

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